Top award for Safety Management student

National Safety Management student Tinashe Kamupira was recently named Student of the Year at the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (SAIOSH) Health and Safety Conference 2018. The award comprises a trophy, a certificate, R5 000 paid to Unisa and, of course, bragging rights for both this outstanding student and the institution.

Tinashe (left) receiving his trophy, certificate and check from the President of SAIOSH, Mr Sanjay Munnoo

‘I am a simple man raised by a farmer in Chibi, Zimbabwe,’ says Tinashe. I passed my O-Levels well in year 2000 and was the highest achiever at Ruminya Secondary School that year. Unfortunately, my parents were not able to put me through college or university.  I started working as a cashier in TM Hypermarket (now known as Pick ‘n Pay Hypermarket) in Bulawayo.  I worked there for six years before I decided to come to South Africa.

‘When I got to South Africa, life was really tough for me. I worked in construction environment most of my time. Being exposed to a dangerous working environment, I developed a passion for safety so that I would be able to influence employers to create a safe working environment.

‘I started studying with Unisa in 2014 when I was doing a higher certificate that I completed with distinction in 2015. I started my National Diploma in Safety Management in 2016 and hope to complete it this year. I work as a Health and Safety Specialist at Initec Civils Pty (Ltd) based in Randburg.

‘The award that I won is for National Safety Management Diploma students who have done very well in their second year. This completion is open to Unisa and Vaal University of Technology safety students. In encourage all students studying in their second year for the National Diploma in Safety Management to enter this competition,’ he concludes.